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Cryptocurrency & Blockchain · head to head

Etherscan vs Ledger Live

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ledger Live logo

Ledger Live

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

Manage your crypto securely

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day; Ledger Live ledger Live is designed to work with a physical Ledger hardware wallet plugged into the device by USB and does not function as a standalone software wallet
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Ledger Live covers Portfolio Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Ledger Live actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and Ledger Live differ
AttributeEtherscanLedger Live
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, ApiDesktop, Ios, Android
Founded20152014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cryptocurrency & Blockchain).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Etherscan

  • Block Explorer
  • Transaction Tracking
  • Token Tracker
  • Contract Verification
  • Gas Tracker
  • Ethereum mainnet
  • Testnets
  • Web support

Only in Ledger Live

  • Portfolio Management
  • Buy/Sell Crypto
  • Staking
  • Swap
  • NFT Gallery
  • Ledger hardware wallets
  • DeFi apps
  • Desktop support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Etherscan

  • Looking up Ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorernot Ledger Live
  • Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot Ledger Live
  • Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot Ledger Live

Ledger Live

  • Managing crypto assets and viewing balances alongside a Ledger hardware walletnot Etherscan
  • Signing transactions offline through a connected hardware devicenot Etherscan

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Etherscan

  • The free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • The free plan requires attribution and covers only selected chains rather than all supported chains
  • API Pro endpoints are withheld below the Standard plan at $199 per month
  • The $49 per month Lite plan raises the rate limit to only 5 calls per second and keeps the same 100,000 calls per day as the free tier
  • Rate limits top out at 30 calls per second even on the $899 per month Pro Plus plan
  • The Address Metadata endpoint requires Pro Plus at $899 per month and is limited to one app license
  • Metadata CSV export and dedicated support are only in Metadata Enterprise, which is quoted by contact with no published price
  • The 10% and 15% discounts apply only to quarterly and yearly prepayment

Ledger Live

  • Ledger Live is designed to work with a physical Ledger hardware wallet plugged into the device by USB and does not function as a standalone software wallet

Pricing, plan by plan

Etherscan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Block explorer
    • 5 API calls/sec
    • Basic analytics
  • Standard$199/month
    • 10 API calls/sec
    • Advanced APIs
  • Pro$399/month
    • 30 API calls/sec
    • Priority support

Ledger Live

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Portfolio tracking
    • Buy/Sell
    • Staking

Which should you pick?

Choose Etherscan if

  • You need block explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want transaction tracking.
Etherscan review

Choose Ledger Live if

  • You need portfolio management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Ios, Android.
  • You also want buy/sell crypto.
Ledger Live review

Questions people ask

Is Etherscan or Ledger Live better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and Ledger Live at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Etherscan or Ledger Live?
Etherscan starts at Free and Ledger Live at Free.
Does Etherscan or Ledger Live run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. Ledger Live runs on Desktop, Ios, Android.
Can I use Etherscan for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Etherscan best used for?
Etherscan is most often used for looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer, reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code, pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer api. Of those, looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer and reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code are not what Ledger Live is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that Ledger Live cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Ledger Live covers Portfolio Management, Buy/Sell Crypto, Staking, Swap.
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